Car replacer



May 14, 1929. c; c SCOTT 1,713,453

CAR REPLACER Filed Oct. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Clare T-Lce E...53:01:11

May 14, 1929. I Q Q sco 1,713,453

CAR REPLACER v Filed Oct. 26, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fillar'ruzj Eh pPatented May 14, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE C. SCOTT, OF PA RIS, TENNESSEE.

CAR REPLACER.

Application filed October 26, 1927. Serial No. 228,894.

The present invention relates to car re placers or rerailer-s and theprimary object of the invention is to provide a rerailer embodying novelfeatures of construction whereby the wheels of rolling stock may bereadily replaced upon the rails. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a rerailer which isapplicable to either side of the rail for replacing the wheels ofrolling stock, and embodies a novel arrangement of guide grooves wherebythe wheels will be positively guided to a position upon the treadsurfaces of the rails without liability of the wheels slipping from therails after being elevated into position by the rera-ilers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rerailer, two of whichwhen properly associated with a pair of rails will so co-act with oneanother as to guide the wheels of the rolling stock into position uponthe rails without allowing the wheels to drop upon the rails with thelikelihood of possibly breaking the wheels or resulting in broken trucksor contents of the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved rerailerwhich is of such construction as to allow for pairs of the devices to beof identical construction or the products of the same mould.

A still further and important object of the invention resides in theprovision of a rerailer having relatively long and wide oppositelydisposed inclines for allowing ready as movement of the wheels upwardlyover the inclines,' and having an arrangement of guide grooves sodisposed at the higher point of intersection of the inclines as tocooperate with similarly formed grooves of the companion rerailer as topositively guide the wheels into position upon each rail.

Other objects and advantagesrof the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of track and showing a pair of theimproved rerailers in position and associated with the rails in a mannerwhereby the wheels of a piece of rolling stock may be guided intoposition upon the rails from either side of the rerailers. I

Figure 2 is an enlarged end. elevation of three of the ties Figure 4 isa bottom plan View of the rerailer.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged transverse sections on the respectivelines of Figure 3.

Refering to the drawings in detail, and wherein similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,the numerals 5 and 6 may designate a pair of rails supported uponthecross ties or sleepers 7, and 8 may designate the improved rerailer as awhole, and'one of which has been shown associated with each of the rails5 and 6 in a manner whereby the rerailers will co-act with one anothertoguidethe wheels into position upon the rar s.

Referring now to the specific formation of the rerailers 8, the same arepreferably formed of such length as to bridge at least 7 and are of suchwidth at their ends as to prevent possible tilting of the devices duringmovement of the wheels up the inclined surfaces thereof. By ob- 7serving Figure 1 it will be seen that the rerailers associated with eachof the rails 5 and 6 and are'of identical construction and are intendedto be associated with like sides of the rails, that is, one rerailer isdisposed at the inner side of the rail 5 while the 'co-act-ing reraileris disposed at the outer sideof the rail 6. By observing Figure 2,

it will be seen that the rerailer at its central highest portion is ofaheight greater than that of the rail 6.

The rerailer comprises an elongated body portion 9 having a straightinner wall 10 and an outer wall 11 of substantially V- shape for forminga pair of oppositely inclined runways 12 being of greatest width at theends of the body and converging to a point at the transverse center orcrown 13 of the body. These oppositely inclined slopes or runways12'merge into relatively thin edges at each end of the body for allowingthe wheels of the rolling stock to readily pass, upward over therunways. The body is preferably of hollow formation at its under sidefor reducing the weight of the rerailer, and a series of transverse webs14 connect the inner and outer Wall: 10 and 'the body intothe cross tieswhen such becomes necessary to prevent longitudinal movement. I

Extending or projecting upwardly at the outer edge of the run vays 12above the outer wall 11, is a guide flange 18 which extends from theterminal portions of the body with its apex arranged at the transversecenter of the body at the crown 13 forming the juncture of theoppositely inclined runways 12. Thus it will be seen that the guideflange 18 at its terminal portions is spaced further from the straightinner wall 10 than that of the medial portion of the flange so that theflange of a wheelwhen engaging the guide flange at the outer end of oneof 'the runways 12 will he guided by the guide flange toward the innerwall 10.

Projecting inwardly from the transverse center or crown 13 of the bodyportion 9 from the upper edge of the inner wall 10 is a retaining orrail engaging portion 20 havinga flat under surface for resting upon thetread surface of the ball of the rail, and provided at its inner edgewith a depending port-ion 21 which is intended to eng the side of theball of the rail atthe opposite side from which the body portion 9 isdis posed. The upper surface of the overlying portion 20 conforms totheshape of the crown portion 13 and has its end edges 'merging into theflat under side of the overlying portion so that the ends of heoverlying portion will present no shoulders from which the wheels mustdrop when passing from the rerailer into position upon the rails. V

Formed in the upper face of the runways 12 and extending parallel withthe angular portions of' the guide flange lS are guide channels 25 whichterminateat their upper or ad acent ends short of the crown 13 as isclearly illustrated in Figures 1;.and 3.

These guide channels 25 attheir lower ends merge into the surfaces ofthe runways 12 at. a point substantially midway of the length of therunways and have their higher or upper ends extending past the inneredge of the body 9 and terminating in spaced relation in the overlyingportion of the rail 1 engaging portion 20.

Formed in the upper surface of the retaining portion 20 and extendingfrom end to end thereof, is an inner arcuate-shaped guide groove 28 thecrown portion of which extends'toward the apex 29 of the substantiallyVfshaped guide flange 18 and the terminal portions of which open at theends of the retaining portion above the depending portion 21. This innerarcuate-shaped guide groove 28 is disposed wholly upon the retainingportion 21 and does not communicate with the inner ends of the guidechannels 25, there being a rib 30 retained between the inner end of theguide channels and the inner guide groove. Thus it will be seen that theinner guide groove 28 has its intermediate portion curved away from thedepending portion 21 of the rail engaging portion 20 with the crown ofthe arcuate-shaped groove disposed at the crown 13 of the body portion 9and spaced slightly from the inner ends of the guide channels 25.

Formed in the upper surface of the body portion 9 and extendingacrossthe crown 13 of the body portion, is an outer a 'cuateshaped guidegroove 32 the crown portion of which extends into close proximity withthe apex 29 of the guide flange 18 and the terminal portions of whichcommunicate one with each of the longitudinal guide channels 25 at eachside of the crown 13 and preferably at a point adjacent the terminals ofthe rail engaging portion 20. This outer guide groove 32 is arcuated ina like direction to that of the inner arcuate-shaped guide groove 28 andhas its terminal portions merging into the guide channels at a pointintermediate the ends of the guide channels and outwardly of the inneredge of the body portion 9 or upon the surfaces outlined by the inclinedrunways 12. Referring particularly to Figure 5 showing a fragmentarysection thru the crownportion of the rerailer, it will be seen that theinner inclined surface 1 8 of the guide flange 18 merges at its loweredge into the crown portion of the outer arcuate-shaped guide groove 32in a 'manner whereby the wheel flange moving along the inclined surface18 will be positively guided into the guide groove when thewheel reachesthe crown 13 of the body portion 9. In other words, it may be statedthat the outer slope of the crown portion of the outer guide groove 32merges into the lower portion of the inclined surface 18' at the crown13 of the body portion 9.

In applying the rerailers to a rail, the inner wall 10 is intended torest .at its lower edge upon the base flange of the rail and for thisreason the inner portion of the body portion 9 is recessed as at 34 soas to allow the outer portion of the body portion to rest flat upon thecross ties 7.

Referring particularly to Figure 1 and wherein the dot and dash linesdesignated A and B have been shown to illustrate the paths taken by theflanges of the wheels when being replaced upon the rails 5 and 6, itwill be noted that the path B illustrates the path taken'by the wheelwhich has to cross the rail 6 for disposing the flange of the wheel atthe inner side of the rail. The arrows designate the direction of travelof the wheels upwardly over the rerailers into position upon the rails.As the wheels are moved forwardly, the flange of one wheel will engagethe inner side of the guide flange 18 in the path A, and as the wheelsmove upwardly over the inclined runways 12 the flange of the'path B willbe guided into longitudinal guide channel 25 of the rerailer associatedwith the rail 6 by reason of the flange of the wheel taking the path Abeing shifted transversely by the angular guide flange 18. As the flangetaking the path B moves to the upper end of the channel 25 and movesover the rib 30 into the inner arcuate-shaped guide groove 28, the wheelflange of the path A will have moved to the crown 13 and then directedby the inclined flange surface 18' of the outer guide groove The wheelflanges are then guided in arcuate paths by the arcuate-shaped' guidegrooves into av position wherebythe flange of the path B will be guidedby the guide groove '28 to a position inwardly of the rail 6 while theflange of the path A willbe guided-toe position inwarly of'the railTheobject in so having the rib 30 formed between the inner guide groove28 and uppenends of the channels 25 is-to prevent the possibility of theflange travelling the path B from entering the channel as at X in Figure1 after the flange has once moved into position within the arcuate guidegroove'28. By so having the terminal portions of the outerarcuatc-shaped guide groove 32 opening into the guide channels '25 itwill be seen that the wheel flange taking the path A will be readilyguided to a position inwardly of the rail 5 by reason of its passing atthe end of the groove 32 into the channel 25 as at V Y in Figure 1. Thewheels will be prevented from dropping upon the tread surfaces of theball of the rails by reason of the fact that the flange taking the pathB is directed across the rail 6 in angular-relation to the rail, and theflange taking the path A will ride down the incline 25 from the point Yuntil the rim of the wheel engages the tread surface of the rail 5.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that an improvedconstruction for rerailers has been provided wherein a pair of thedevices may be used for replacing the wheels of rolling stock, and whichdevices are of such construction as to allow for two of the devices ofidentical construction being used for positive replacing of the wheelsinto the crown portion upon the rails without likelihood of the wheelsdropping from the rerailer after being elevated to a position above therails. It will further be apparent that a novel arrangement of guidegrooves and channels has been formed upon the inclined runways of theretailer for forming positive paths for the flanges of the wheelswhereby the flanges are positively guided into position at the properside of the rails upon which the wheels are being mounted.

Changes in detail may be made to the specific form of the inventionherein'shown and described, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims. I

I claim:

1. A rerailer comprising an elongated body portion having oppositelyinclined runways provided at its upper surface forming a transversecrown, an upstanding guide flange extending along the outer edge of thebody portion from end to end thereof, a rail engaging portion projectinginwardly from the body portion at the crown formed by the oppositelyinclined runways, guide channels formed longitudinally in the runways ateach side of the crown, a guide groove con-' nccting said guide channelsand traversing the crown, and a second guide groove formed in the uppersurfacerof the rail engaging portion and opening at each end thereof atthe inner edge of the portion.

2. A rerailer comprising an elongated body portion having oppositelyinclined-runways provided at'its upper surface forming a. transversecrown, said runways flaring toward each end of the body portion, anupstanding outer edge of the body portion and converging-toward saidcrown, a rail engaging portion projecting inwardly from the body portionat the crown and having its upper surface conforming to the uppersurface of the body p0rtion,' uide channels formed longitudinally in therunways in'parallel relation with the angular portion of the guideflange zit-each side of the crown, a guide groove connecting said guidechannels and traversing the crown, and a second guide groove formed inthe upper surface of the rail engaging portion and extending from end toend thereof with the terminals of the guide groove. opening at the inneredge of the rail engaging portion.

i rerailer comprising an elongated body portlon having oppositelyinclined runportion at the crown and having its upper guide flangeextending along the surface conforming to the upper surface of guidegroove formed in the upper surface of the rail engaging portion andarcuated in alike direction to that of said first mentioned arcuateguide groove and opening at each end of the rail engaging portionadjacent the inner edge of the portion.

4'. A rerailer comprising an elongated body portion having oppositelyinclined runways provided at its upper surface forming a transversecrown, said runways having their outer edges converging toward saidcrown, an upstanding guide flange extending along the outer edge of thebody portion and having portions converging toward said crown, saidguide flange having an inclined inner surface, a rail engaging por tionprojecting inwardly from the body portion at the crown and having itsupper surface conforming to the upper surface of the body portion, aninner arcuate-shaped guide groove formed in the upper surface of therail engaging portion, guide channels formed longitudinally in therunways at each side of the crown and having their upper endsterminating short of the inner guide groove, and an outer arcuate-shapedguide groove connecting said guide channels at opposite sides of thecrown with the crown portion of the outer guide groove eX- tending intoclose proximity with the inner inclined surface of the guide flange atsaid crown. V

5. A rerailer comprising an elongated body portion having oppositelyinclined runways provided at its upper surface forming a transversecrown, said body portion having a straight inner side and havingitsouter sides converging toward the crown whereby said runways flaretoward each end of the body, an upstanding guide flange extending alongthe outer edge of the body portion with its apex arranged at the crownof the body portion, said guide flange having an inclined inner face, ar a1l engaging portion PIOJBCtlIlg inwardly from the body portion of thecrown and having its upper surface conforming to the oppositely inclinedrunways, an inner arcuate-shaped guide groove provided in the uppersurface of the rail engaging portion and extending from end to endthereof, said guide groove being arcuated toward the outer edge of thebody portion, guide channels formed longitudinally in the runways ateach side of the crown and. terminating in spaced relation at theirupper ends closely adjacent the crown of the inner guide groove, and anouter arcuate-shaped guide groove connecting the guide channels atopposite sides of the crown of the body port-ion, said outerguide'groove being arcuated toward'the outer edge of the body portionand having its crown portion sloping upwardly into'thelower portion ofthe inner inclined wall of the guide flange at the apex portion of theguide flange.

6. In a rerailer, a body portion having an inclined runway provided atits outer edge with an upstanding guide flange, a rail engaging portionprojecting inwardly from the body portion at the upper end of therunway, a guide groove formed in the upper surface of the rail engagingportion and opening at the ends of the portion, and a guide channelformed longitudinally in the runway and havingits upper end terminatingshort of the-guide groove. V

7. In rerailing apparatus for railway rolling stock, a pair of rerailingmembers for positioning longitudinally one at the inner and the other atthe outer sides of opposite rails, said inner disposed member includingan elongated body portion provided with an inclined runway extendingabove the tread surface of the fail, a guide flange extending along theouter edge of the runway in converging relation to 'the rail, and aguide groove extending from the upper end of the flange and opening atthe inner edge of the member, and said outer disposed member includingan elongated body portion provided with an inclined runway extending toa position above'the tread surface of the rail, a rail connectingportion extending in overlying relation to the tread surface of therail, a guide channel formed longitudinally in the runway and convergingtoward the rail at the upper end of the runway, and a guide grooveformed in the upper surface of the rail engaging portion and opening tothe inner side of the rail with which the rerailing member isassociated.

